Metal coated nano fibres

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to metal coated nano-fibres obtained by a process that includes electrospinning and to the use of said metal coated nano-fibres. The process is characterised in that a polymer nano-fibre with functional groups providing the binding ability to a reducing reagent is prepared by electrospinning at ambient conditions. Then this is contacted with a reducing agent, thereby opening the epoxy ring on the surface of polymer nano-fibre and replacing with the reducing agent and the reducing agent modified film is reacted with metal solution in alkaline media. Finally the electrospun mat is treated with water to open the epoxy rings in the structure and crosslinking the chains to provide integrity.

The present invention relates to a process for the metal coating ofnano-fibres, to the metal coated nano-fibres obtained by this processand to the use of these metal coated nano-fibres.

Nano-science has attracted much attention due to the fact that materialsexhibit unusual properties from their bulk states. Optical andelectrical properties of compounds/elements depend mainly on their sizewe are interested.

Electro-spinning is a novel and efficient fabrication process that canbe used to assemble fibrous polymer mats composed of fibre diametersranging from several microns to fibres with diameter lower than 50 nm.The fibres are formed using an electrostatically driven jet of polymersolution (or polymer melt), emitted from the apex of a cone formed onthe surface of a droplet of polymer or polymer solution. As this jettravels through the air, it solidifies leaving behind a polymer fibre tobe collected on an electrically grounded target.

Construction of nano-scale composite fibres by electro-spinning from amixture of rigid rod aramid polymers and flexible polymers is alsofeasible. Applicants refer to Srinivasan G, Reneker D H. PolymerInternational 1995;36:195 and to Demir M. M.; Yilgor E.; Yilgor I.;Erman B.; Polymer 2002, 42, 3303. There is a growing interest in thefield of metallisation of polymeric surfaces like explained in Bicak,N.; Sungur S; Tan N.; Bensebaa F.; Deslandes, Y. J. Poly. Sci. Part APolymer Chemistry 2002, 40, 748. Silver can be used for followingreactions in terms of catalytic activity in modified catalyst foroxidative conversion of methanol to formaldehyde as explained in ButenkoA N, Savenkov A S; Russ J Appl Chem+ 2000, 73 (11), 1942-1945, 44 (2),145-146, butadiene epoxidation as explained in Monnier J R, Medlin J W,Barteau J Catalysis 2001, 203 (2) 362-368.

A method for forming metal particles and fibres is explained in U.S.Pat. No. 6,346,136. This document uses carbon nano-tubes or carbonnano-fibres as templates which are mixed with solvated metal saltprecursors, followed by calcination and reduction of the above mixtureat an elevated temperature and under a flow of inert or reductive gas.This document does not use electro-spinning.

Conductive nanoscale diameter fiber was obtained by electrospinning ofconductive polymer, polyaniline and polyethylene oxide blend. Theconductivity of nanofilament was expected to be as conductive as bulkpolymer as explained in WO 01/51690 A1.

The aim of the invention is to provide a general simple, inexpensive,method controllably generating metal-coated electronic fibres.

It is also an aim of the invention to provide for a time and cost savingnew process for the metallisation of nano-fibres by electro-spinning atambient conditions.

It is also an aim of the present invention to provide metallised highsurface area nano-fibres obtained by this new process.

It is also an aim of the present invention to consistently fabricatenano-fibres of an organic polymer electro statically In which diametersof all fibres fall well within the definition of a nano-material.

It is another aim of the present invention to provide multiple uses ofsaid metallised nano-fibres. It is another aim of the present inventionto provide products containing said metallised nano-fibres.

The above aims have been achieved by Applicants invention, which isdirected to a process for the preparation of metal-coated polymernano-fibres, characterised in that

-   -   a) preparing a polymer nano-fibre with functional groups        providing the binding ability to a reducing reagent by        electro-spinning at ambient conditions;    -   b) contacting the electrospun polymer nano-fibre obtained in        step a) with a reducing agent, thereby opening the epoxy ring on        the surface of polymer nano-fibre and replacing with the        reducing agent;    -   c) reacting the reducing agent modified polymer film obtained in        step b) with a metal salt solution in alkaline media;    -   d) treating the electrospun mat obtained in step c) with water        to open the epoxy rings in the structure and crosslinking the        chains to provide integrity.

The invention is also directed to the metallised nano-fibres obtained bythis process and to the use of said metallised nano-fibres.

It is to be understood that the foregoing general description and thefollowing detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and areintended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are hereby incorporated in andconstitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of theinvention and together with the specification serve to explain theprinciples of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows the ¹H NMR spectrum of poly(acrylonitrile-co-glycidylmethacrylate) (PGMA)

FIG. 2 is the IR spectra of (a) P(AN-GMA) and (b) Hydrazine treatedP(AN-GMA)

FIG. 3 shows the electron microscope images of (a) P(AN-GMA) and (b)Hydrazine treated P(AN-GMA)

FIG. 4 shows the thermo-analytical curves of P(AN-GMA) and Ag treatedhydrazine modified P(AN-GMA)

FIG. 5 shows the X-ray diffraction analysis of Ag particles on theP(AN-GMA) nanofibers

FIG. 6 shows electron microscope images of Ag coated P(AN-GMA)nanofibers at 3 different scales

FIG. 7 shows the ¹H NMR spectrum of poly(styrene-co-glycidylmethacrylate)

FIG. 8 shows Optical Microscope image of poly(styrene-co-glycidylmethacrylate) nanofibers electrospun from solutionat 2 kV/cm.

As stated hereinabove the invention relates to a process for thepreparation of metal-coated polymer nano-fibres, characterised by thefollowing steps:

-   -   a) preparing a polymer nano-fibre with functional groups        providing the binding ability to a reducing reagent by        electro-spinning at ambient conditions;    -   b) contacting the electrospun polymer nano-fibre obtained in        step a) with a reducing agent, thereby opening the epoxy ring on        the surface of polymer nano-fibre and replacing with the        reducing agent;    -   c) reacting the reducing agent modified polymer film obtained in        step b) with a metal salt solution in alkaline media;    -   d) treating the electrospun mat obtained in step c) with water        to open the epoxy rings in the structure and crosslinking the        chains to provide integrity.

The applicants electrospun an insulator type polymer and metallise theresulting nano-fibers by electroless plating method to make conductive.Hydrazination of the oxirane ring is the centre of nucleation of metalcrystals on fibre when the electrospun film is reacted with aqueousAgNO₃ solution in alkaline media. Metal deposition from its saltsolution is known as electroless plating.

The polymer nano fibre is a polymer obtained by radical initiatorpolymerisation of I) monomers chosen from the group comprisingacrylonitrile, styrene, methyl methacrylate, ethylene, propylene withII) functional monomers chosen from the group comprising acrylates,epoxides acrylamides, and acidic comonomers like glycidyl methacrylate,poly hydroxy ethyl methacrylate, methyl methacrylate, 4-hydroxy butylacrylate, diacetone acrylamide, 2-acrylamide, vinyl phosphoric acid,2-methyl propane sulfonic acid and acrylamides.

Each monomer gives a different property to the polymer.Polyacrylonitrile (PAN), homopolymer of acrylonitrile monomer is aprecursor of the carbon fibres. Presence of acrylonitrile monomerprovides ability to obtain carbon nano-fibres. Moreover, PAN in dimethylformamide is a good polymer-solvent system from aspect of electrostaticspinnability.

The second monomer, for example, glycidyl methacrylate monomer (GMA) isof great interest since the pendant oxirane ring is a very activefunctional group that can be opened and a range of functionalities couldbe introduced. The oxirane ring can be opened up easily by hydroxyl andamine groups. In addition, oxirane ring in aqueous media cross-links thepolymer chains and electrospun mat gains integrity.

The polymer nano fibre is preferably poly(acrylonitrile-co-glycidemethacrylate), because it has an active surface, a self-crosslinkablestructure, an ability to modify surface and an ability to obtain carbonfiber.

The reducing agent is chosen from the group comprising hydrazine, alkaliborohydride, CuCl and SnCl₂. The reducing agent is preferably hydrazine,which easily modifies the active epoxy group of GMA monomer. Hydrogenatom is transferred from hydrazine to epoxy group. Hydrazine can work asa reducing agent even if attached covalently to fiber surface. Hydrazineis used on the fibre surfaces efficiently for metal reductions.

Hydrazination of the oxirane ring is the centre of nucleation of metalcrystals on fibre when the electrospun film is reacted with a metalsolution in alkaline media. Metal deposition that takes place onhydrazine-modified nano-fibres can be followed easily.

The metal solution comprises soluble transition metal salts in asolvent, comprising AgNO₃ in water, AgCl in water, NiCl₂ in water, andPdCl₂ in DMF. The metal solution is preferably aqueous AgNO₃ in alkalinemedia. To have a metallisation reaction of nanofibers with electrolessplating method, AgNO₃ must be soluble, i.e. cation and anion should beseparated from each other in solution media and should be mobile toconduct the reaction. Metal deposition from its salt solution is knownas electroless plating. In contrast to chemical vapour deposition, thismethod takes place by redox reaction.

The invention also relates to metal coated polymer nano-fibres obtainedby the process hereabove as well as to the use of the metal-coatedpolymer nano-fibres in applications chosen from the group comprisingnanotubes, catalysts, conductors, solar cells, fuel cell electrodes forsensors, electrochemical actuators, proton exchange membranes andelectrodes, hydrogen storage membranes, high density packing structures,thin film transistors, reflectors, compact disks and decorativeapplications. The invention relates also to catalysts and conductorscontaining metal-coated polymer nano-fibers.

During the preparation of metal-coated polymer nano-fibres a two stepprocedure was followed as illustrated in the following steps:

Step 1 Modification of Epoxy Ring

The first step is the modification of epoxy ring on P(AN-GMA) nano-fibrevia hydrazine. Ring opening reaction of epoxide replaces with thehydrazine that is known as a reducing agent. Hydrazination of epoxy ringwas followed by IR spectroscopy with appearing of 3216 cm⁻¹ bands comingfrom the —NH₂ group.

In FIG. 2, the appearance of 3216 cm−1 and disappearing of 906 cm−1bands confirm the opening of epoxy ring by the hydrazine molecule. Thebroad and intense band observable over 3000 cm⁻¹ contains the hydroxyland amine groups. The fact that the morphology and diameter of thefibres remain unchanged after surface modification can be seen on FIG.3.

Step 2—Redox Reaction

The second step is a redox reaction between hydrazine attached toelectro-spun fibres and Ag cations in solutions. Oxidation of hydrazinereduces and deposits Ag metal nano-particles on the fibres under aqueousalkaline media. The reaction takes place within several minutes.

The metallisation of polymer fibres begins on the fibre surface. Whenthe metallisation process is completed, electrospun mat is treated withwater. Cross-linked structure is obtained because the epoxy ring in thestructure cross-links the chains. Oxirane rings are used formetallization process and for crooslinking reaction.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, reference ismade to the following examples, which are intended to illustrate theinvention, but not restrict or limit whatsoever the scope thereof.

Examples

All the chemicals used were analytical-grade chemicals and were usedwithout any further purification. These are: glycidyl methacrylate GMA(Fluka), acrylonitrile (AN); (Fluka), and hydrazinium hydroxide (100%;E. Merck), styrene (STY) (Merck).

Example 1 a) Preparation of the Copolymer

In a 100 ml flask 34.16 ml dimethyl formamide (DMF) 12.64 gacrylonitrile (AN), 23.35 g glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) monomers and0.47 g ammonium persulphate initiator is added. Amount of AN and GMA inthe monomer mixture was 60 and 40 percent per mole respectively. Themixture is heated to 50° C. and stirred over a period of 24 hours forradical polymerisation. 75 ml polymer solution having 30% wt solidcontent is obtained. Poly (acrylonitrile-co-glycidyl methacrylate)copolymer composition was determined by using ¹HNMR spectrum (Varian 500MHz) of the polymer, which is shown in FIG. 1.

It is shown that a well-defined poly (acrylonitrile-co-glycidylmethacrylate) can be prepared by radical polymerisation. The protonresonance for the oxirane ring was assigned to the peaks at 3.26 ppm(d), 2.88 ppm, and 2.95 ppm (e). GMA content of the polymer wasestimated from the NMR spectra via the integration of the characteristicpeaks of epoxy over those of acrylonitrile. The amount of GMA is foundas 58% wt on the chain. By definition, r₁ (AN) and r₂ (GMA) representthe relative preference of a given radical that is adding its ownmonomer to the other monomer. The multiplication of the reactivity ratioof two monomers is nearly 1 indicating the ideal copolymerisation.

b) Fabrication of Fibres

The polymer solution from Example 1 is placed in an Pasteur pipette andsubjected to 12.3 kV electrical potential. A grounded sheet waspositioned across the high voltage probe that was in a glass tube filledwith polymer solution. When potential difference overcomes the surfacetension, a thin jet ejected from the polymer droplet being held on theglass tip. Solvent was evaporated and nano-scale fibres remain on thegrounded sheet. Eventually, a mat-like structure was obtained and can beeasily detached from the foil. Polymer solution was held in a glasscapillary. The diameters of the capillary and the tip were 5 and 1 mm,respectively.

The electrical field was provided by a high voltage (HV) 50 kV with 500μA direct current. The output voltage and the current between groundedaluminium sheet and the copper probe were measured from an externalconnection of the power supply with multimeter. The potential differencebetween the pipette and the ground used to electrospin varied in therange 0-35 kV.

The copper probe of the HV generator was inserted into the capillary andelectricity was conducted through the solution. The capillary was tiltedapproximately 10° from the horizontal to maintain a droplet of solutionat the tip of the pipette. A grounded aluminium sheet was positionedopposite and perpendicular to the tip of the pipette onto which thefibres were deposited. After solvent evaporation, fibres were ready forcharacterisation.

All products were electro-spun under 1.53 kV/cm electrical field.Electro-spun fibre mat on P(AN-GMA) was electrospun successively, fromsolution in DMF under variance of electrical field. The diameter of thefibres was on the order of 250 nm under 1.53 kV/cm. Spinning process hadcontinued for nearly 6 hrs to obtain thick enough electrospun mat.

c) Modification of the Polymer Webs with Hydrazine

700 mg electrospun polymer web was mixed with 20 ml hydraziniumhydroxide (100%) in a 250-mL flask and stirred overnight. Than it waswashed with 500 ml methanol 6 times. The distilled water had beendeaerated with a flow of 0.5 bar duration of 20 min nitrogen gas. Theproduct was dried at 50° C. for 24 h in vacuum.

A two-step procedure was followed during the preparation of metal-coatedpolymer nano-fibres. The nano fibres were analysed with IR spectra(Bruker Equinox 55) and under JEOL mark (840A) electron microscope withdifferent magnifications. The IR spectra of (a) P(AN-GMA) and (b)hydrazine treated P(AN-GMA) fibres is given in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 confirmsthe opening of epoxy ring by the hydrazine molecule by appearing of 3216cm⁻¹ and disappearing of 906 cm⁻¹ bands. The broad and intense bandobservable over 3000 cm⁻¹ contains the hydroxyl and amine groups.

FIG. 3 gives the electron microscope images of a) the fibres at 10microns and b) the hydrazine treated fibres at 20 microns. To see theeffect of hydrazination on fiber morphology, PGMA—homopolymer of GMA—wassynthesized and performed electrospinning. Electrospun nanofibers weretreated with hydrazine. Electron microscope was employed to image thenanofibers before and after hydrazination. As can be seen the morphologyand diameter of the fibres remain unchanged after surface modification

d)—Deposition of Silver

700 mg of the hydrazine modified electro-spun mat was introduced into amixture of 5 ml of a 0.1M AgNO₃ solution, 0.5 ml of a 1M KOH solutionand 1 ml concentrated NH₃ solution in a closed glass bottle. Theimmediate precipitation of the metal onto nano-fibre takes place withinfew minutes.

e)—Analysis The Thermo Gravimetric Analysis (TGA)

The TGA was performed using Netzsch STA 449C under oxidative media toburn the polymer into H₂O and CO₂. A heating rate of 10° C. was used toheat the 700 mg samples from room temperature to 1000° C. Thethermo-analytical curves of P(AN-GMA) and Ag treated hydrazine modifiedP(AN-GMA) is presented in FIG. 4.

The thermo-oxidative decomposition of two products precedes differentpaths from room temperature to 1000° C. with 10° C. increase per minute.Degradation occurred and mass decreased as the temperature increases.While only 2% of polymer moiety remains beyond 750° C. underthermo-oxidative environment for P(AN-GMA), for metal deposited sample,55% of total mass was measured at the end of the thermal analysis. Massloss of the samples before and after metallisation procedure wasattributed to the amount of silver deposited on the electro-spun mat.Additionally, the melting point of Ag is 961° C. is observed as anendothermic peak.

The X-Ray Diffraction Analysis

FIG. 5 illustrates the X-ray diffraction (XRD) curve for P(AN-GMA) afterthe metallisation process of Ag cation. Five peaks were detected on theX-ray spectra between 30-90°. Main peak appeared around 20=38.1°corresponding to the (111) peak of Ag. Other four peaks were at 44.3°,64.5°, 77.4°, 81.8°. The bars on the spectrum are from the JCPDSreference diffraction data file for Ag. The spectrum of the mats with Agmatches the one for Ag.

The dimensions of the Ag particles were estimated by using Debye-Schererformula (β=0.9×λ/(FWHM×cos θ)). |3 is the size of the Ag crystals, FWHMis the values of full width at half maximum of the main peak. Thecalculated average size of Ag particles was 43 nm.

The Electron Microscope Analysis

The electron microscope analysis of the nano fibres was performed usingJeol marka electron microscope with 840A model at differentmagnifications. The accumulated Ag atoms were observed by usinghigh-resolution electron microscopes.

The electron microscope images of the Ag coated P(AN-GMA) nanofibres atrespectively a) 500 nm, b) 200 nm and c) 50 nm are given in FIG. 6 thatshows the spherical silver nano-particles on the electro-spunnano-fibres after reduction of silver cations. The metal nano-particleswere heterogeneously distributed on the fibre surface.

The phase difference between polymer and metal nano-particles can beseen easily due to the atomic number difference between carbon (12) andsilver (107) atoms. The shape of the particles is spherical, averagediameter of the particle size measured from the graph is 40 nm. Particlesize calculated from peak broadening of X-ray spectra matches with thesize measured from the electron microscope images. This result indicatesthat silver atoms are single crystals. It should be emphasised that allparticles are stated on the surface of the nano-fibres.

Example 2 a) Preparation of the Copolymer

30 ml tetrahydrofuran (THF), 15 g styrene (STY), 15 g glycidylmethacrylate (GMA) monomers and 0.08 g azo-bis-iso-butylonitrile (AlBN)initiator are added in a 100 ml flask. Amount of STY and GMA in themonomer mixture were respectively 42% and 58% per mole. The mixture isheated to 80° C. and stirred over a period of 26 hours for radicalpolymerisation. 75 ml polymer solution having 50% wt solid content isobtained. Poly (styrene-co-glycidyl methacrylate) copolymer compositionis determined by using ¹HNMR spectrum (Varian 500 MHz) of the polymer,which is shown in FIG. 7.

b) Fabrication of Nanofibers

50% wt of Poly (styrene-co-glycidyl methacrylate) solution in THF isdiluted to the 25% wt concentration with DMF. Polymer solution issubjected to 2 kV/cm electrical filed. The diameter of the electrospunfibers shown in FIG. 8 is on the order of 100 nm.

c) Modification of the Polymer Webs with Hydrazine

Electrospun mat that is brittle and transparent was easily removed fromthe Al foil and immersed into aqueous hydrazine solution. The mat iskept for 48 hours in this reducing media. After washing procedure, themat is ready to metal coating.

d) Deposition of Silver

1 g of the hydrazine modified electro-spun mat was introduced into amixture of 5 ml of a 0.1M AgNO₃ solution, 0.5 ml of a 1M KOH solutionand 1 ml concentrated NH₃ solution in a closed glass bottle. Theimmediate precipitation of the metal onto nano-fibre takes place withinfew minutes. The mat was kept in reducing media for 24 hours.

e) Analysis

The coated sample is analyzed with XRD from 30° to 90°. The same spectraillustrated at FIG. 5 are obtained.

As can be seen the invention presents a new approach to molecularelectronics and provides a general simple, inexpensive, methodcontrollably generating metal-coated electronic fibres. Themetallisation of fibres can be easily made saving time and energy.

It is possible to consistently fabricate nano-fibres of an organicpolymer electro statically in which diameters of all fibres in givenpreparations fall well within the definition of a nano-material, i.e.which are on the order of 250 nm with 40 nm Ag nano-particles.

This process provides metal-coated organic polymers with conductive andhigh catalyst properties. Moreover these metal-coated organic polymerscan have the advantage of multiple use since they can be washed andre-used due to its cross-linked structures.

Applications areas for metallised nano-fibres are as follows: chargetransporting materials in solar cells, electrodes for biological andchemical sensors, electrochemical actuators, protein exchange membranesand electrodes, hydrogen storage membranes, high density packingstructures, thin film transistors, reflectors, compact disks, decorativeapplications, magnetic materials.

The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms ofdescription and not of limitations, and there is no intention in the useof such terms or expressions of excluding any equivalents of thefeatures shown and described as portions thereof. It will be obvious tothose skilled in the art that various changes may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention which is not be consideredlimited to what is described in the specification.

REFERENCES

(1) Srinivasan G, Reneker D H. Polymer International 1995;36:195.

(2) Demir M. M.; Yilgor E.; Yilgor I.; Erman B.; Polymer 2002, 42, 3303.

(3) Bicak, N.; Sungur S; Tan N.; Bensebaa F.; Deslandes, Y. J. Poly.Sci. Part A Polymer Chemistry 2002, 40, 748.

(4) Butenko A N, Savenkov A S; Russ J Appl Chem+ 2000, 73 (11),1942-1945.

(5) Monnier J R, Medlin J W, Barteau J Catalysis 2001, 203 (2) 362-368.

(6) WO-A-01/51690 or Norris I D, Shaker M M, Frank K K, MacDiarmid A G.Synthetic Metals 2000;114:109.

1-10. (canceled)
 11. A method comprising using metal-coated polymer nano-fibers prepared by a process comprising the steps of: a) electro-spinning a polymer solution at ambient conditions to form polymer nano-fibers with functional groups comprising epoxy rings on a surface of the polymer nano-fibers and epoxy rings in a structure of the polymer nano-fibers that allow for binding by a reducing reagent; b) contacting the electrospun polymer nano-fibers obtained in step a) with a reducing agent, thereby opening the epoxy rings on the surface of the polymer nano-fibers and allowing the reducing agent to bond to the surface of the polymer nano-fibers; c) reacting the reducing agent modified polymer nano-fibers obtained in step b) with a metal salt solution in alkaline media and obtaining an electro-spun mat of metal-coated polymer nano-fibers; and d) treating the electrospun mat obtained in step c) with water to open the epoxy rings in the structure to obtain cross-linking in the polymer nano-fibers and using the metal-coated polymer nano-fibers in applications selected from the group consisting of nanotubes, catalysts, conductors, solar cells, electrodes for sensors, electrochemical actuators, proton exchange membranes and electrodes, hydrogen storage membranes, high density packing structures, thin film transistors, reflectors, compact disks and decorative applications. 